Knot school

Figure-eight knot – step by step

A stopper knot that prevents the line from running through a fitting.

How to tie a figure-eight knot

The orange arrow shows the movement to the next step. The yellow and blue lines tell the two lines apart. The last image shows the finished knot.

Step 1
Make a loop by crossing the working end over the rope.
Step 2
Pass the working end around behind the standing part and back towards the loop.
Step 3
Pass the tail through the first loop. Pull both ends and form a clear figure eight.

Bigger than an overhand knot, but can still slip through a hole that is too large.

Check that the stopper knot actually stops in the fitting in question. Tighten it before use.

Practise with a loose line on land. Never use these practice knots for climbing or personal safety.

Is the figure-eight knot the same as a figure-eight loop?

No. This shows the simple stopper knot. A loop tied with a doubled line is a different variant.

Text and illustrations: Marinpedia. The images are our own schematic drawings.

A fixed loop, for example around a bollard.

Secures a line around a post or ring under steady load.

Ties two ends together around a bundle or a furled sail.

Joins two lines, especially when they are of different thickness.

Mooring around a bollard with a round turn and two half hitches.

A temporary, quick-release hitch with a pull-out bight.

Makes a line fast to a cleat.